Team-before-self attitude propels former Adkin star

Otis Clark was a star football player for Adkin High from 1954-57. He will be inducted into the Kinston/Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 20 during a ceremony at the Woodmen Community Center, the new permanent home of the KLCSHOF.

Submitted photo

By Ryan Herman / Sports Editor

Published: Monday, October 8, 2012 at 10:33 PM.

Otis Clark has enough accolades to fill a large trophy case.

To him, however, none of it could have been possible without the help of his teammates.

Clark, a 1958 graduate of Adkin High, is considered to be one of the best football players to walk its halls. He also went on to enjoy a successful collegiate career at Shaw University, where he was inducted into its sports hall of fame in 1989.

This year, the Kinston/Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame will officially make Clark a member of its 2012 class during a ceremony at the new Woodmen Community Center at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20.

“I would like to think of myself as a team player,” Clark said.

Clark started at right tackle on offense and middle linebacker on defense for the Pirates from 1955-57 — a span in which he also led the team in tackles.

To him, however, none of it could have been possible without the help of his teammates.

Clark, a 1958 graduate of Adkin High, is considered to be one of the best football players to walk its halls. He also went on to enjoy a successful collegiate career at Shaw University, where he was inducted into its sports hall of fame in 1989.

This year, the Kinston/Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame will officially make Clark a member of its 2012 class during a ceremony at the new Woodmen Community Center at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20.

“I would like to think of myself as a team player,” Clark said.

Clark started at right tackle on offense and middle linebacker on defense for the Pirates from 1955-57 — a span in which he also led the team in tackles.

During his senior year Clark was named a team captain, an all-state pick and was selected to play in the N.C. East-West Shrine Bowl.

His former high school coach, Bill Grice, a 2004 KLCSHOF inductee, compiled a pair of lists of former players he called “All-Time Greats” for both offense and defense. Clark was the only player on both lists, and was named Coach Grice’s Most Valuable Player during his coaching tenure at Adkin.

“When I saw (the list), I was like, I was shocked, I was happy, and overjoyed,” Clark said.

“I was like, ‘What else could I accomplish?’ I mean, here was one of the greatest coaches to have ever been in North Carolina and he saw all of this in me and helped me to accomplish all of that.”

Following a successful prep career, Clark went on to Shaw University, where the personal accomplishments kept coming.

There he started at right guard and middle linebacker and led the team in tackles for three seasons. He was named the team’s most valuable player, its captain, and was a member of the All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association First Team on defense.

As a senior Clark was named the CIAA’s Player of the Year and was named a small college All-American.

Again, the individual accolades were a product of the team.

“To be recognized as one of Shaw’s greatest all-time players and then to be in the Hall of Fame that was magnificent,” Clark said.

“I had to thank all my teammates who helped me to do that. You can’t accomplish things like that by yourself.”

One of those teammates was Edwin Jones.

Jones, a teammate of Clark’s at Adkin and current assistant principal at North Lenoir, is also on the list of offensive greats coached by Grice.

“Otis Clark was the most outstanding middle linebacker to graduate from Adkin High School,” Jones said.

Clark, 73, a widower with two children and lives in Rahway, N.J., has seen how football — and sports in general — has lost focus of the team and now centers on the individual.

Clark, who spent nearly 30 years coaching football in North Carolina and New Jersey, offered his advice for today’s athlete.

“You cannot be an island by yourself on a team,” Clark said. “That has always been my focus. You are a family. Stick together. Work together and your goals will be accomplished because you have to support one another.”

Along with Grice, Clark credits his family and former Adkin teammates — Lewis “Shot” Rowland, Earl “Thunder” Miller and Edwin “Big Head” Jones — for his success.

“Coach Grice, he was like my father, a mentor, my math teacher and a great friend. He always stressed hard work,” said Clark, known as Otis “Bro-nose” Clark to his teammates. “My mom was a single parent who worked so hard and had five kids who stressed staying in school and having a future. My sisters always encouraged me to work hard, stay in school and stay out of trouble.

“And of course my teammates.”

Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.

Highlights of Otis Clark’s career

n Started at right tackle and middle linebacker for three straight years

n Led Adkin in tackles for three straight years

n Was an all-state selection

n Selected to play in the 1957 N.C. East-West Shrine Bowl

n Was named to legendary coach Bill Grice’s All-Time Greats lists for both offense and defense

n Named the Most Valuable Player of coach Grice’s All-Time Greats

n Played college football at Shaw University

n Was CIAA Team Player of the Year

n Named a small college All-American at middle linebacker

n Was inducted into the Shaw University Hall of Fame in 1989

Kinston/Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame

The Kinston/Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame will induct its fourth class on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Woodmen Community Center, the new permanent home of the KLCSHOF. The Free Press is running a series of articles by Ryan Herman and Bryan C. Hanks on all 10 new inductees and the teams that will be honored at the ceremony. Here is the schedule for the stories:

The Kinston/Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame will induct 10 new members at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Woodmen Community Center, the new permanent home for the KLCSHOF. Tickets cost $30. This year’s class includes: Douglas “Doug” Bruton, Otis Clark, Thomas George Cole, Pat Crawford, Wayne Floyd, Vincent Jones, Coley Little, Linwood Hugh Pollock, Carolyn Goodley Souther and Fred Williams. Boys basketball teams from Grainger (1963-64, 1964-65) and South Lenoir (1968-69) and girls teams from North Lenoir (1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67) will also be recognized for their past achievements.

Tickets can be purchased at the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation offices located upstairs at the Woodmen Community Center or at The Free Press.